Meeting with Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East in his constituency, Tasif Khan has thrown his support behind Imran and the District’s bid to be crowned UK City of Culture 2025, and efforts to boost grassroots participation in boxing.

During the meeting, Tasif Khan, currently the British-Pakistani Professional Boxing World Champion spoke with Imran about Bradford’s long sporting and boxing history, and the positive role that the legacy of professional boxing in the city, with renowned boxers such as Richard Dunn and Bobby Vanzie has on the strength of Bradford’s City of Culture 2025 bid.

Fresh from his recent epic charity expedition climbing to the top of Mount Snowden to raise much-needed funds for the Kort Hospital in Mirpur in Azad Jammu & Kashmir to help support those with limited access to healthcare in one of the world’s poorest regions, Tasif also spoke with Imran about the positive impact that professional sportsmen and women can have on charities and the third sector.

Prior to turning professional, Tasif built an impressive Amateur boxing record, becoming the North of England Champion in 2004, the National England finalist in 2005, and held the Yorkshire and Humber Champion title for six years. Turning professional, he rose through the ranks, fighting on the undercard of the Amir Khan v Paul McCloskey boxing bout in Manchester MEN arena, and winning a number of belts to become the only current British-Pakistani Professional Boxing World Champion.

Speaking on his support for Tasif Khan, Imran said:

“Throughout his illustrious career, Bradford born and raised Tasif Khan has been an inspiration for young people in particular in Bradford, and what is most inspiring that despite his fame as a professional world boxing champion that could take him anywhere in the world, he is proud of his roots in Bradford where he still continues to live and practice.

“Whilst he continues to practice for his professional matches, Tasif also still finds time to get heavily involved in local and charitable endeavours, raising money for healthcare for some of the world’s poorest groups and for good causes supporting young people in Bradford’s disadvantaged inner-cities.

“I’m therefore immensely proud to have Tasif’s backing for my campaign to press Ministers to crown Bradford as the UK City of Culture 2025, and to boost support for grassroots boxing gyms across Bradford to get young people off the street, give them a sense of discipline and purpose, and help improve their life chances.”